1985, The First Kernels of The RPG Research Project
Someone recently questioned how I could have first started the initial threads of research that lead to The RPG Research Project as far back as around 1985. Here is some information...
The short version is that I was fortunate enough to be at an extraordinary school, Realms Of Inquiry "A school for Gifted & Talented Children", combined with serendipitous events and my willingness to step into the fray (sometimes with clumsy big boots), that first lead to me writing an 8 page English course paper on current events and I chose RPGs, then I was asked to read that paper to the whole school, and then later my being able to "teach" RPGs to the school for 5 days a week over about a month-long time period.
The much more detailed and longer version is here:
http://rpgresearch.com/about/blog/anecdotal-experiences-of-stigma-as-a-tabletop-role-playing-gamer